LATEST @ 5.00 PM | Three men will be extradited to Queensland over the alleged murder of Gold Coast man Omega Ruston 13 years ago.
The men were arrested in Sydney following a lengthy investigation into the cold case murder.
43-year-old Hysam Hamdan was arrested at Sydney Airport on Monday night as he attempted to board a flight to Dubai.
Police will allege he was carrying $25,000 cash in his luggage.
37-year-old Paul Younan was arrested after police stopped a black Toyota Hilux travelling on the M4 at Huntingwood.
A 39-year-old man was arrested at a home in Norwest in Sydney’s northwest.
The men fronted court on Tuesday where Queensland detectives successfully applied for their extradition.
All three remain in custody in New South Wales and are expected to be transported to Queensland in the coming days.
A 45-year-old Gold Coast man was also arrested in Brisbane this morning.
He has been charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder and will front the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
WATCH: Gold Coast man arrested in relation to alleged murder of Omega Ruston
LATEST @ 1.00 PM by Shanee Dobeson | A Gold Coast man has now been arrested in relation to the alleged cold case murder of local father Omega Ruston, killed in a suspected road rage attack at Burleigh Heads 13 years ago.
The 45-year-old was taken into custody by detectives in Brisbane this morning and has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
“It will be alleged the man provided immediate assistance to the offenders after the murder had been committed,” Queensland Police said.
The man is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court later today.
It follows the arrest of three men in Sydney overnight.
One of the men, aged 43, was arrested by Australian Federal Police as he attempted to board a plane to Dubai, with a search of his luggage allegedly uncovering more than $25,000 cash.
A 37-year-old man was taken into custody after police stopped a black Toyota Hilux travelling on the M4 at Huntingwood.
While a 39-year-old man was arrested at a home on Fairway Drive at Norwest.
NSW Police have since charged the three men with outstanding arrest warrants on behalf of Queensland Police, however, the men are expected to be extradited back to the Gold Coast where they will face murder charges.
Omega Ruston was driving along the Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh Heads around 10.25pm on Australia Day, January 26, 2009, when he was shot dead in a suspected road rage incident.
PHOTO: Supplied
“Detectives will allege the men were occupants in the vehicle of interest, a maroon sedan seen stopping near Omega’s 2001 Holden Rodeo, on the side of the highway,” Qld Police said.
“Police will allege two shots were fired from the rear passenger side window of the maroon sedan, with one of the shots fatally striking Omega.
“The same vehicle was then seen travelling south along the highway following the shooting”.
Police are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward, with a $250,000 reward still on offer.
More to come.
WATCH: Police arrest man in Sydney over the murder of Omega Ruston –
EARLIER @ 8.00 AM by Shanee Dobeson | POLICE have made a major breakthrough in the murder of Gold Coast father Omega Ruston, who was killed in a suspected road rage attack 13 years ago.
The 32-year-old was shot dead on the side of the Gold Coast Highway in Burleig Heads on Australia Day in 2009.
Following “significant forensic developments” in the case, Queensland Police last year announced a $250,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible.
In a statement to myGC a short time ago, Queensland Police confirmed three men were arrested in New South Wales overnight.
Detectives from the Homicide Investigation Unit and Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch will travel to Sydney today following the major development.
Queensland Police are expected to apply for their extradition to the Gold Coast.
“Queensland Police Homicide Investigation Unit and Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch detectives are travelling to Sydney following the arrest of three men overnight as part of a joint investigation with NSW Police Force into the murder of 32-year-old Omega Ruston on the Gold Coast in 2009,” police said.
“There is no further information available at this stage”.
IMAGES | Supplied
It comes after Queensland and NSW Detectives last year scoured the Parramatta River looking for a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting murder of Omega.
The father-of-two had been travelling south in his white 2001 Holden Rodeo ute with two friends when he pulled over on the highway near the intersection with 5th Avenue following a traffic incident with a second vehicle.
Omega and one of his passengers exited the ute, as the second vehicle, a small maroon four-door sedan was seen stopping behind his vehicle before driving forward.
Two shots were fired from the rear passenger side window of the maroon sedan, with one shot fatally striking Omega in the abdomen.
Witnesses reported seeing three men in the maroon vehicle, with the rear passenger seen holding a black semi-automatic style pistol.
Police last year revealed the same weapon is also believed to have been used in a drive-by shooting of a Sydney barber shop.
A media conference is expected to be held in Sydney later today.
It’s not yet known if the reward has been claimed.
